This recording of Beethoven's Fifth and Seventh Symphonies by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra was made from three live concerts in December 2014.
Composer Biography
Beethoven, who was nearly deaf, often spoke of his desire to defiantly meet fate face to face, a theme recurrent in his life due to personal struggles.
Composition History
Beethoven composed his Fifth Symphony over four years, during which he also worked on his Sixth Symphony, the opera Fidelio, and Piano Concerto No. 4.
Critical Reception
Richard Wagner famously called Beethoven's Seventh Symphony 'the apotheosis of the dance,' while Carl Maria von Weber remarked that Beethoven was 'now ripe for the madhouse' after hearing it.
Notable Performances
The Seventh Symphony premiered in 1813 at a charity concert for wounded Austrian and Bavarian soldiers, conducted by Beethoven himself, and was one of his biggest triumphs.
Notable Performances
The world premiere of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on December 22, 1808, was a marathon concert that also included the Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto, and Choral Fantasy.
Performer Biography
Manfred Honeck, the conductor, has served as Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since the 2008-2009 season and has led them on annual European tours since 2010.
